Monday, 2 May 2011

Mansoor Ossanlou is the head of the Union of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company. He was arrested in July 2007 and sentenced to five years in prison. In 2010 another year was added to his prison term. He suffers from a number of health problems including a serious heart condition for which he was hospitalized in February 2011. At the end of April 2011, his heart condition was said to have worsened. He is being held in Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj near Tehran.

Ebrahim Madadi is the deputy head of the Union of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company. He was arrested in December 2008 when he was visiting an employment office in north Tehran. He was given a three and a half year prison sentence for ‘actions against national security and publicity against the system’. He is being held in Rajai Shahr Prison.

Reza Shahabi is a board member of the Union of Tehran and Suburbs United Bus Company. He was arrested in June 2010 and is being held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison in Tehran on unspecified charges. He was set a $60,000 bail, which his family met; however, the regime has refused to release him. In protest, Shahabi went on hunger strike, and his case has drawn strong international support. He has been denied any visits.

Reza Rakhshan is the head of Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Workers Union. In December 2010 he was sentenced to six months in prison for ‘spreading lies and confusing the public mind’. He is being held in Fajr Prison in the city of Dezful.

Behnam Ebrahimzadeh is a labour and human rights activist and a member of the Committee to Set up Free Labour Organisations in Iran. He was arrested in June 2010, and in September went on hunger strike in protest. In December a court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for ‘waging war against God’. However, after worldwide protests, the regime has said the sentence is to be reviewed. Previously, in 2009, he was arrested at the independent May Day rally in Tehran, detained for a month and then released on bail. He is being held in Evin Prison.